Douglas Chalmers
Director
Striding Edge JM
Cumbria 6,768 km2 - 3rd largest County (2% of Finland) 499,800 people – 41st most populated (9% of Finland) Cumbria 74 people/km2 Finland 18 people/km2
Cumbria
Cumbria • Local
Authorities
Cumbria • Local
Authorities • National
Parks
“Nature knows no boundaries”
……… but politicians do!
Cumbria • Local
Authorities • National
Parks
Cumbria • Local
Authorities • National
Parks • Parks
Extensions
Cumbria • Local
Authorities • National
Parks • Parks
Extensions • Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty
Friends of the Lake District
• Membership organisation
Members >6,600
Facebook >2,000 likes
Twitter >6,500 followers
Friends of the Lake District
• Membership organisation
• Only organisation dedicated to protecting and
enhancing Cumbria’s amazing landscapes
“Nature can often leave us with a sense of awe”
Friends of the Lake District
• Membership organisation
• Only organisation dedicated to protecting and
enhancing Cumbria’s amazing landscapes
• Charity
• Landowners in our own right • Credibility when lobbying
• Greater understanding of real issues
The world has changed since 1934. How do we stay relevant?
Three Strategic Aims
1. Looking to the future for Cumbria’s landscapes
– Securing and enhancing landscape character
– Adapting our landscapes to impacts of climate change
2. Engaging People in Cumbria’s future landscapes
– Sustaining upland landscapes in time of change
– Understanding benefits landscapes provide for people
3. Securing our organisation for Cumbria’s landscapes
– Positive profile
– Sustaining our organisation
Protect and improve our landscapes
Support local communities
Educate and inspire
Part of the Extensions area – my daily commute!
North West Coast Connections
And we get our hands dirty ………………..
Land area covered by National Parks: England: 10 National Parks cover 9.3% of the land area Wales: 3 National Parks cover 19.9.% of the land area Scotland: 2 National Parks cover 7.2% of the land area
Designated 1951
Population 40,800
Visitors/Year 16.8 million
Visitor Days/Year 24 million
Visitor Spend/Year £1,146 million
Who owns the Lake District National Park?
• National Trust (Charity) 21%
Who owns the Lake District National Park?
• National Trust (Charity) 21%
• United Utilities (plc) 8%
Who owns the Lake District National Park?
• National Trust (Charity) 21%
• United Utilities (plc) 8%
• Forestry Commission (Government Agency) 5%
• Lake District National Park Authority 3.8%
Over 60% in private ownership
UK National Parks are:
• Settled and worked landscapes
• Most in private ownership
• Resident communities exploit local resources to make a living
Private land protected for the public good
Lake District National Park Partnership
Lake District National Park Partnership
• Transforming model for running National Parks
• Lean times for the public sector
• Forced to be more commercial
• Fit with businesses
• Meet Purposes
• Partnership is ever more important
• Smarter
• Commercial
• Facilitate through Partnership
Thank You